The beneficial psychological effects of exercise might be explained by self-determination theory and autonomy. However, the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms are even less elucidated. Previously neglected, aperiodic (1/f) brain activity is suggested to indicate enhanced cortical inhibition when the slope is steeper. This is thought to be associated with an increased cognitive performance. Therefore, we hypothesize that running with a self-selected intensity and thus given autonomy leads to stronger neural inhibition accompanied by psychological improvements. Twenty-nine runners performed two 30-min runs. First, they chose their individual feel-good intensity (self-selected run; SR). After a 4-weeks washout, the same speed was blindly prescribed (imposed run; IR). Acute effects on mood (Feeling Scale, Felt Arousal Scale, MoodMeter®), cognition (d2-R, digit span test) and electrocortical activity (slope, offset, 1/f-corrected alpha and low beta band) were analyzed before and after the runs. Both runs had an equal physical workload and improved mood in the Felt Arousal Scale, but not in the Feeling Scale or MoodMeter®. Cognitive performance improved after both runs in the d2-R, while it remained stable in the digit span test after SR, but decreased after IR. After running, the aperiodic slope was steeper, and the offset was reduced. Alpha activity increased after SR only, while low beta activity decreased after both conditions. The aperiodic features partially correlated with mood and cognition. SR was not clearly superior regarding psychological effects. Reduced aperiodic brain activity indicates enhanced neural inhibition after both runs. The 1/f-corrected alpha band may emphasize a different neural processing between both runs.

运动的有益心理作用可以用自决理论和自主性来解释。然而，潜在的神经生理学机制尚不清楚。以前被忽视的非周期性（1/f）大脑活动被认为表明当斜率更陡时皮质抑制增强。这被认为与认知能力的提高有关。因此，我们假设以自我选择的强度跑步并因此获得自主权会导致更强的神经抑制，并伴随着心理改善。 29 名跑步者进行了两次 30 分钟的跑步。首先，他们选择个人感觉良好的强度（自选跑步；SR）。经过 4 周的清洗后，盲目规定相同的速度（强制跑；IR）。分析前后对情绪（感觉量表、感觉唤醒量表、MoodMeter®）、认知（d2-R、数字跨度测试）和皮层电活动（斜率、偏移、1/f 校正 α 和低 β 带）的急性影响运行。两次跑步的体力负荷相同，感觉唤醒量表的情绪有所改善，但感觉量表或 MoodMeter® 的情绪却没有改善。在 d2-R 中的两次运行后，认知表现均有所改善，而在 SR 后的数字跨度测试中保持稳定，但在 IR 后下降。运行后，非周期坡度更陡，偏移量减小。仅在 SR 后α活性增加，而低β活性在两种情况下均下降。非周期性特征与情绪和认知部分相关。就心理影响而言，SR 并没有明显优越。非周期性大脑活动减少表明两次跑步后神经抑制增强。 1/f 校正的 alpha 带可能会强调两次运行之间不同的神经处理。